The New Patriotic Party (NPP) as stated that it has always been a dynamic and resilient political party. It has therefore called on its rank and file, in the face of the resignation of leading member John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, to demonstrate unity, fortitude, and unwavering commitment to the principles upon which the party was founded.
The party has stated that as it strives to win the 2024 general election and make a monumental record, it urged the party faithful to reaffirm their dedication towards this common goal.
“Our party’s strength has always been derived from the unity and resilience of our members, and we call upon each and every one of you to rally together and uphold the principles that define us. Indeed, we are the NPP, and the elephant is our winning symbol,” stated party General Secretary Justin Koduah Frimpong yesterday.
The press conference was addressed by the General Secretary of the NPP on the resignation of Mr. Alan Kyerematen from the party on September 26, 2023.
The NPP emphasized that the press conference was not tailored to attack the personality of Mr. Kyerematen, but, rather to correct certain erroneous statements made in his press conference and also to use this opportunity to set the record straight.
The NPP stated that central to the reasons given by Mr. Kyerematen for his resignation as captured in pages seven (7) and eight (8) of his resignation address are the allegations of so-called unconstitutional and unmeritorious decisions of the National Council regarding a petition by some presidential aspirants which demanded that the Super Delegates Conference should be held at a single venue as well as allowing each delegate to nominate five persons instead of one. The party stated that riding on the above narrative, Mr. Kyerematen asserted that the Party’s Super Delegates Conference was strategically and tactically skewed to favour one aspirant.
The NPP stated that first, Article 13(1) (1), of the Party’s Constitution states that the date and venue for the presidential primaries shall be decided by the National Council, provided, however that the National Council may, on appropriate occasion vary the date.
The party explained that the National Council, the appropriate body mandated by the Party’s Constitution to make a determination on the date and venue did not violate the Constitution by voting against the proposal for the use of a single venue for the elections.
“Furthermore, there is a historical precedence. In 2014, the Special Electoral College elections were held at several venues. At the time, no aspirant including Mr. Kyerematen filed no petition regarding the venue,” the party stated.
The Party explained that its Constitution further states in Article 13(2)(2) that where there is more than one contestant, each delegate will cast his or her vote by secret ballot for one of the contestants.
“Therefore, the demand by the petitioners for delegates to vote for five (5) persons instead of one is unconstitutional,” the party sttaed.
“It needs mentioning, that as democratic and transparent as the leadership of the Party has been, it recommended to the consideration of the National Council a determination on the petition upon receipt of same. Even more important is the fact that, the petitioners (although most of them are not members of the National Council) were granted the rare opportunity to appear before the Council and make their case on why such a proposal should be adopted. In a true democratic process, seventy-three (73) members of the National Council voted against both proposals relative to nine (9) others who voted in support, underscoring the overwhelming rejection of both proposals,” the party stated.
The leadership of the Party stated that it equally disagrees with assertions made by Mr. Kyerematen in page eight (8) of his resignation address that ‘‘the Party has been hijacked by a selected group of Party leaders and elders, and government appointees behind the curtain power brokers’’.
“Guided by facts and data, the leadership of the Party disagrees entirely with this assertion. Historically, the selection of flagbearers for political parties in Ghana had been the preserve of a privileged few until the New Patriotic Party took the bold decision to decentralize the process by expanding its electoral college to enfranchise some One Hundred and Six Thousand, Five-Hundred and Ninety (106,590) delegates in 2010.
“Currently, about Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) delegates would be voting to select the Party’s next flagbearer relative to the estimated One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Eight delegates (1,998) who did same in 1992. Clearly, the quantum leap to Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) delegates in 2023 underscores the decentralization of power to all Party stakeholders and defeats the assertion that the Party has been hijacked by a privileged few,” the party sttaed.
In reference to Mr. Kyerematen’s concerns, which include allegations of intimidation against his supporters, the party stated that that certain government appointees, including cabinet ministers, who openly declared their support for him are still at post and have never been intimidated.
The party noted that under the Fourth Republic, both the NPP and the NDC have had some leading members of their party breaking ranks to either form their own party, or join other political parties, yet the mother party remained resilient.
“Going into the 2024 general elections, the party has a message, and we use this opportunity to commend Mr. Kyerematen for admitting the good work the government has done under his then ministry,” the party stated.
They listed some of these achievements as the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) with the headquarters of the Secretariat in Ghana, the development of new strategic anchor industries, including automobile assembly and Component Manufacturing, the establishment of business resource centres and technology solutions centres all over the country, Integrated Customs Service (UNIPASS) to enhance government revenue and the establishment of industrial parks, including the greater Kumasi industrial city and Special Economic Zone.
Others are the development of a national export strategy with a target of achieving export revenue of 25 billion US dollars by 2030, and the introduction of business regulatory reforms and public-private dialogue mechanisms to facilitate government interaction with the private sector.
The party urged all sector Ministers and other government appointees to also start propagating the unprecedented achievements of the government in their respective sectors just as Mr. Kyerematen has done and also commended the Party’s rank and file for remaining steadfast and openly rallying behind the party.
“Indeed, this is the true spirit of the New Patriotic Party. To all Party faithfuls who were hitherto supporting Mr. Kyerematen by virtue of his membership in the Party, though it is disappointing and distressing, we urge you to continue supporting the Party in our quest to break the eight (8). Together, we shall overcome challenges, and together, we shall achieve success. We urge all party faithfuls to remain committed, dedicated and resolute in the ongoing Voter limited registration exercise. Together, we shall persevere, and together, we shall succeed,” the party stated.
The party acknowledged the sudden demise of Hon. Daniel Okyem Aboagye, a former Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency and former Government Spokesperson on Finance.
The Party stated that as it was coming to terms with the demise of Okyem Aboagye they were hit with news about the resignation of Mr. Alan Kyerematen through a press conference he organised.
The party stated that the disappointing part is the mode in which he decided to resign from the party, which was through a press conference without prior notice to the party.
“The Party wants to believe that by his decision to hold the press conference to resign without first informing the leadership of the Party suggests that he has made a premeditated and irrevocable decision to resign from the Party.
It needs emphasizing that, when the National Chairman visited him on behalf of the Party after the August 26 Special Electoral College, in an attempt to bring all the ten aspirants together, he did not portray any sign of resigning from the party, let alone going independent,” the party stated.
The NPP acknowledged Mr. Kyerematen’s contributions to the party’s growth and development over the years.
“We respect his decision and extend our gratitude for the services rendered to the NPP and the nation,” they said.
The party stated that since 1992, several party faithfuls have had the vision to lead the party and, subsequently, to lead the country, but sadly, as nature has its own course, only a few have had the opportunity to achieve that vision. “Party faithfuls who never had the opportunity to lead, never resigned from the party but continued to serve, some until they were called to eternity. Just as many faithful who had no vision to lead the Party but served the Party in various capacities and never tasted power but died holding unto the banner of our great party,” the party said.
